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Travelocity vs Vacation Outlet

To help you find the Best Cruise Vacations, TopConsumerReviews.com provides you with an in-depth comparison of Travelocity and Vacation Outlet.

To see ALL of our reviews for the Best Cruise Vacations, please Click Here

What's the best way to plan and book a cruise vacation? Lots of travelers are turning to cruises for the best of all worlds: the excitement of exotic ports of call, the convenience of not having to change hotels with every new destination, and the delight of world-class dining and entertainment day and night.

In fact, cruising isn't limited to a particular group when it comes to popularity. Parents with young children may gravitate towards cruise lines that are known for their top-notch onboard clubs for kids, and young singles tend to choose sailings with tropical destinations - and unlimited drink packages! From casinos to spas and so much more, a cruise vacation has something for everyone.

Cruise Vacation Reviews

If you've read through all of the reviews in the Cruise Vacations category, you'll already know what we're about to say: Travelocity is one of four companies in our review (including Priceline, Orbitz, and Expedia) that are all owned by the same company.

What does that mean for you? Essentially, the customer experience across the sites is almost identical. When we searched for our Disney and Royal Caribbean sample itineraries, the pricing and the promotions were exactly the same.

The one thing we found on the Travelocity site that wasn't included on Orbitz and Expedia was a Price Match Guarantee - or, at least if they do offer it, it's not as prominently featured as it is on the Travelocity platform. According to the fine print, if you book your cruise vacation through Travelocity and find a lower fare within 24 hours, they'll refund the difference. Of course, the travel dates, cruise line,
cabin and class all need to be the same, and the other fare has to be from a US-based website.

The one thing we found on the Travelocity site that wasn't included on Orbitz and Expedia was a Price Match Guarantee - or, at least if they do offer it, it's not as prominently featured as it is on the Travelocity platform. According to the fine print, if you book your cruise vacation through Travelocity and find a lower fare within 24 hours, they'll refund the difference. Of course, the travel dates, cruise line,
cabin and class all need to be the same, and the other fare has to be from a US-based website.

Another novel part of the Travelocity site is their partnership with reality TV show The Amazing Race. Find yourself wishing you could take one of the fantastic cruises that the contestants win as a prize? You can - if you're willing to pay for it! Scroll down towards the bottom of the site and you'll find all of the travel prizes listed under "As Seen on The Amazing Race".

On the other hand, Travelocity doesn't offer a rewards program. If you only use online travel agencies occasionally, this probably won't impact your decision. But, if you are a frequent traveler, choosing an online agency like Expedia or Orbitz and sticking with it could lead to significant rewards down the line.

On the other hand, Travelocity doesn't offer a rewards program. If you only use online travel agencies occasionally, this probably won't impact your decision. But, if you are a frequent traveler, choosing an online agency like Expedia or Orbitz and sticking with it could lead to significant rewards down the line.

Vacation Outlet is a World Travel Holdings company, along with Cruises Only - another cruise vacation booking site in our review. The two sites are essentially mirror images of each other.v

That means that when we looked up the sample Disney and Royal Caribbean sailings, we got all of the same results in terms of availability, promotions, and pricing. And yes, that also includes the non-refundable $24.99 booking fee.

So, while Vacation Outlet says that their fares are "always at outlet prices", we definitely didn't find any sailings that offered a significant discount or advantage over other booking sites.

We were glad to see that World Travel Holdings had an "A+" rating with the Better Business Bureau at the time of our review. But, reading through the complaints and reviews registered at the BBB, we found a lot of customers who were frustrated by their experience with Vacation Outlet, especially if there was a need to cancel a cruise because of weather or other reasons. People also said that they were billed
for different things that hadn't been explained clearly, and that the customer service representatives were less-than-courteous when handling the issue.

Compared with full-service cruise booking sites that offer one-stop shopping, and also with the higher-ranked services in our review that have a great reputation for customer service, Vacation Outlet just doesn't measure up. We recommend you choose a better-rated service when booking your next cruise vacation.

While you might think that the best deal on a cruise is found by booking directly with the cruise line, you're more likely to get extra incentives if you purchase your cruise through an online partner company. The agents working for these companies know all of the most current incentives, like onboard credits or discounted shore excursions, and it doesn't cost you extra to get the help of an agent. The internet
makes it especially easy to price the destinations and dates that interest you, get a ballpark amount, and then request a detailed quote - or even book your cruise right away! - with just a few clicks of the mouse.

If you're new to cruise vacations, you should be aware that there are costs to expect beyond the price of the actual sailing. Most initial price quotes don't factor in taxes and port fees, for example. Also, you're generally expected to pay a certain amount in gratuities - to the stateroom attendant who makes your bed and often leaves you with towels shaped into cute animals each night, and your wait staff
in the dining room. Some cruise lines have suggested amounts, while others automatically charge your credit card on file for the gratuities they require from each guest.

Onboard, while many things are part of your all-in-one vacation experience, you should anticipate paying extra for alcoholic beverages and soft drinks, though some cruise lines have packages you can buy that include them. And, of course, if you want to take advantage of your ports of call for shopping, excursions like swimming with dolphins or taking a guided tour, you'll want to budget for that as well.

When deciding which site to use when booking your next cruise vacation, how can you tell which company offers the best service? Here are several criteria to keep in mind as you make your choice:

TopConsumerReviews has reviewed and ranked the best cruise vacation booking sites available today. We hope this information helps you find the perfect sailing for your travel party. All aboard!

Site Navigation. How easy is it to find the cruises you want? Are you provided with enough information to make your decision?

Selection. Does the cruise booking site offer a wide range of cruise lines? Do they offer options for the dates and destinations you want?

Pricing. Are the price quotes consistently lower than what you'd get when booking directly? If the site promises good deals, does the company deliver?

Full-Service Options. If you appreciate the convenience of one-stop shopping for your cruise along with any necessary airfare, car rentals, and so on, look for a cruise vacation site that lets you book those at the same time. You may even get extra savings for doing it.

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